First Black KU Basketball Player Dies
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The first Black men's basketball player at the University of Kansas has died at the age of 90. LaVannes Squires was a member of the 1952 national title team. KU announced his death in a statement yesterday (SAT), saying Squires passed away February 19th in Pasadena, California. No cause was given. Squires was born in Missouri, grew up in Wichita, and Squires lettered three seasons at KU from 1952-54 under head coach Phog Allen. In 1950-51 Squires earned KU’s Freshman Basketball Award. With Squires on the team, Kansas won the 1952 NCAA championship, three Big Seven regular-season titles and two Big Seven Holiday Tournaments. Squires paved the way for basketball great Wilt Chamberlain, who played for the Jayhawks from 1956-58 before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. . He also laid the groundwork for such standouts as Bud Stallworth, who became a first-round pick of the Seattle Supersonics, and JoJo White, who went on to become a seven-time NBA All-Star.
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Winfield Correctional Facility Reports First COVID-19 Death
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The Winfield Correctional Facility is reporting its first coronavirus-related death. The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) announced the death of a 62-year-old male with underlying medical issues. He tested positive for COVID-19 on February 4th, was hospitalized four days later, and died February 24th. The resident was serving a 226-month sentence for aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He had been imprisoned with the KDOC since 2011. His death marks the 20th coronavirus-related death for the the Kansas Department of Corrections.
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Kansas Bill to Lower Concealed Carry Age Stalls in Committee
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill to lower the legal age to carry concealed firearms in Kansas from 21 to 18 has stalled in a House committee, but a supporter plans to offer the proposal for consideration on the House floor. The bill would require permit holders to complete a background check and undergo gun safety training. Supporters say 18-year-old Kansans can already carry firearms in the open. Opponent say those under 21 are less mature and more prone to risk-taking. Bills that don’t get committee approval typically fail. But Hesston Republican Representative Stephen Owens said he’d bring it up as an amendment to another gun bill that will get a floor debate.
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Crash Kills 3 People, Kills 3 Dogs, Injures 2 Children
HILLSBORO, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol has released the names of the people involved in a two-vehicle wreck that killed three people and injured two children. Three dogs also died. The Wichita Eagle reports the crash was reported around noon Friday on U.S. 56 near Hillsboro in Marion County. A 5-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy were taken to Wesley Medical Center. The children were riding in car seats in a Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 30-year-old Nathan D. Puett of Salina, who died in the wreck. The crash log says Puett was driving eastbound and crossed over the center line, hitting a Ford F150 head on. James and Jody Potter of Emporia were both killed. They were pulling a trailer with greyhound dogs.
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Lawrence Man Charged after Driving into Lake with Mother
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A 21-year-old Lawrence man has been charged after allegedly driving a vehicle into Lone Star Lake with his mother inside. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Jeremy S. Williams made his first court appearance Friday where he was formally charged with second-degree attempted murder. Deputies responded to a call Thursday about a vehicle appearing to have driven into the lake. The caller reported that a woman was a passenger and appeared unable get out of the vehicle because of a broken leg. The caller had helped the 54-year-old woman from the vehicle by the time authorities arrived. She was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and cold exposure.
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Kansas Supreme Court Suspends Judge
BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A foul-mouthed Kansas judge accused of bigotry who cursed at courthouse employees so often that a trial clerk kept a “swear journal” documenting his obscene outbursts has been suspended from the bench for one year. The Kansas Supreme Court yesterday (FRI) called Montgomery County Judge F. William Cullins’ behavior “quite troubling” while meting out a harsher punishment than was recommended by a disciplinary panel. The court says Cullins shows bias and the appearance of bias in his remarks and that his coarse language sullies the judiciary. The ruling is effective immediately, but the court said it would consider waiving the remaining suspension after 60 days if he enters into an approved plan for training and counseling.
